Executive Head: Product Manager at Vodacom

Role Purpose:

• Executive Head: Product Management (FTTH) guides the company’s product strategy and vision. They ensure the product line aligns with overall business goals and market demands. This person leads cross-functional teams, steers innovation, and drives performance metrics to maximize product success.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Strategic Planning: Develop and manage the Fixed product portfolio, ensuring alignment with company goals and market needs.
• Vision and Roadmap: Define and communicate the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the product, ensuring it positions the company as a global leader aligned to our customer’s future needs.
• Innovation: Create and present visionary innovations, strategic decision proposals, and prepare and present business case to justify strategic direction and decisions.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead a team of product managers, collaborating closely with all internal and external stakeholders
• Market Analysis: Provide critical market input and ensure product strategy and positioning align with the marketing brand and product strategy.
• Customer Discovery: Engage in product discovery and customer discovery processes to inform product development.
• Performance Metrics: Monitor and analyze product performance metrics, making data-driven decisions to optimize product success.
• Benchmark Best practice - Maintain a detailed understanding of our competitors and the market to ensure we deliver and develop best in clas products
• Detailed understanding of  the telecommunication and FTTX landscape as well as the changing demands of our customer requirements 
• Manage Opex and Capex Budget for area of responsibility

The ideal candidate for this role will have:
Qualifications and Experience: 

• Minimum of 10 Years relevant experience in Product management of which 4 years in a leadership position
• 3-year commercial degree or diploma essential and 
• 4-year degree or 4th-year qualification e.g. Hons degree will be an advantage

Competencies

• Understanding of the Fixed Environment, future Technology and digital landscape 
• In-depth understanding of Product Development Life Cycle
• Understanding of the Fibre/Mobile telecoms environment
• Understanding of the OSS / BSS systems and processes (FTTX advantageous).
• Financial acumen and strategic thinking
• Stakeholder mapping and management
• Customer focused

Other Competencies Required:

• Proven experience in product management, with a track record of successful product launches
• Leadership Skills: Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a team.
• Analytical Skills: Highly analytical, with the ability to work effectively in a matrix environment.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to present to investors and analysts.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Entrepreneurial thinking and action, with the ability to keep a cool head during turbulent times.